Loke: There Are Now Women-Only Express Bus Services on The KL-Seremban Route

Good news for women who usually take the bus on the Kuala Lumpur-Seremban route! Transport Minister Anthony Loke said that three express bus companies will be providing women-only rides eight times a day during the morning and evening rush hours.

According to The Star, Loke said that this decision was made after female passengers requested for it and will be available from 5am to 7am and 5pm to 7pm on weekdays. “At present, there are three companies providing the (KL-Seremban) service, and we have told them to provide four trips between 5am and 7am for women only. This is to allow female passengers who travel to work every morning to do so in comfort,” he said.

Sinar Harian says that the express bus companies started introducing this service three months ago. Loke explained that the Transport Ministry had received complaints from female passengers who regularly take the bus to work, saying that they weren’t comfortable sitting next to men throughout the journey.

About 2,000 people use the KL to Seremban express bus service when they go to work every morning. Loke said during his visit to the Terminal One bus station at Seremban that he has ordered the three bus companies to reduce their one-way fare. They had previously increased the fare to RM 7, but the ceiling price has been set to RM6.50.

“I was told they unilaterally increased their fares from RM6 to RM7 from 1st June. Since the ceiling fare approved by us was only RM6.50, they will have to comply or risk losing their licence,” he added. The bus companies have since reduced the fare after being warned that stern action would be taken if they failed to do so.